From mountains of flavored shaved ice to chicken cutlets as big as your face, Taiwanese eating always comes with superlatives. Starting with one of our favorites -- according to a popular Taiwanese saying, "Where there's a wisp of smoke, there's braised fatty pork with rice." -- here's an appetizing selection.
Braised pork rice —
From mountains of flavored shaved ice to chicken cutlets as big as your face, Taiwanese eating always comes with superlatives. Starting with one of our favorites -- according to a popular Taiwanese saying, "Where there's a wisp of smoke, there's braised fatty pork with rice." -- here's an appetizing selection.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
You know a food is an obsession when it gets its own festival. Beef noodle soup inspires competitiveness and innovation in Taiwanese chefs. Everyone wants to claim the "beef noodle king" title.
Beef noodles —
You know a food is an obsession when it gets its own festival. Beef noodle soup inspires competitiveness and innovation in Taiwanese chefs. Everyone wants to claim the "beef noodle king" title.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Taiwan's quintessential snack -- it features something from the soil and something from the sea.
Oyster omelet —
Taiwan's quintessential snack -- it features something from the soil and something from the sea.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
No matter who invented it, we'd like to thank all the bubble tea places that serve it right.
Bubble tea —
No matter who invented it, we'd like to thank all the bubble tea places that serve it right.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Unlike when it was invented, we no longer have to wait for the slack season to eat this delicious bowl of noodles.
Slack Season danzai noodles —
Unlike when it was invented, we no longer have to wait for the slack season to eat this delicious bowl of noodles.
Clarissa Wei/CNN
Amateur eaters will want to watch out for the bones.
Milkfish —
Amateur eaters will want to watch out for the bones.
Hiufu Wong/CNNGo
Dumplings for giants. Made with a dough of rice flour, corn starch and sweet potato starch, these ones appear almost translucent after cooking. Stuffed with pork, veggies and sometimes eggs, ba wan often come topped with gravy.
Ba wan —
Dumplings for giants. Made with a dough of rice flour, corn starch and sweet potato starch, these ones appear almost translucent after cooking. Stuffed with pork, veggies and sometimes eggs, ba wan often come topped with gravy.
Hiufu Wong/CNNGo
This iconic Taiwanese pastry -- mini-pies filled with candied pineapple -- is one of Taiwan's best food souvenirs.
Pineapple cake —
This iconic Taiwanese pastry -- mini-pies filled with candied pineapple -- is one of Taiwan's best food souvenirs.
Courtesy SunnyHills
Taiwan deserves a special place in the fried chicken hall of fame. Its popcorn chicken is particularly addictive.
Fried chicken —
Taiwan deserves a special place in the fried chicken hall of fame. Its popcorn chicken is particularly addictive.
Courtesy Ada Yeung
It's like inception for chickens -- chicken fried rice wrapped in a drumstick.
Chicken wing rice roll —
It's like inception for chickens -- chicken fried rice wrapped in a drumstick.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Taiwan's summer blockbuster -- the shaved ice mountain.
Shaved ice mountain —
Taiwan's summer blockbuster -- the shaved ice mountain.
Hiufu Wong/CNNGo
Few things are more appetizing than a flaky scallion pancake being slowly torn apart.
Flaky scallion pancake —
Few things are more appetizing than a flaky scallion pancake being slowly torn apart.
Hiufu Wong/CNNGo
Add it to lemonade and shaved ice for a refreshing summer drink. The jelly gives the liquid a fun, gloopy texture.
Aiyu jelly —
Add it to lemonade and shaved ice for a refreshing summer drink. The jelly gives the liquid a fun, gloopy texture.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Though three-cup chicken is a signature Taiwanese food, it's hard to find at street stalls.
Three-cup chicken —
Though three-cup chicken is a signature Taiwanese food, it's hard to find at street stalls.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Mmm ... congealed pig's blood on a stick. Jeremy Lin loves it.
Pig's blood rice pudding —
Mmm ... congealed pig's blood on a stick. Jeremy Lin loves it.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Nothing like fried bread wrapped with roasted bread to fuel your morning.
Taiwanese breakfast —
Nothing like fried bread wrapped with roasted bread to fuel your morning.
Courtesy Joan H
Geese, bred on Taiwan farms, are never wasted. From the skin to the blood, every part is used to create delicious dishes.
Goose —
Geese, bred on Taiwan farms, are never wasted. From the skin to the blood, every part is used to create delicious dishes.
Courtesy Ada Yeung
Medicinal herbs give us a healthy excuse to feast on ribs.
Ribs stewed in medicinal herbs —
Medicinal herbs give us a healthy excuse to feast on ribs.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
What's better than fresh seafood? Balls of fresh seafood. Taiwan's handmade fish balls tend to have more air in the ball, thus allowing more broth to be soaked up.
Fish ball soup —
What's better than fresh seafood? Balls of fresh seafood. Taiwan's handmade fish balls tend to have more air in the ball, thus allowing more broth to be soaked up.
Hiufu Wong/CNN
Love the ease, hate the side dishes. Cheap Taiwanese bento boxes are available in most convenience stores.
Biandang —
Love the ease, hate the side dishes. Cheap Taiwanese bento boxes are available in most convenience stores.
Hiufu Wong/CNN